START-UPS' QUEST FOR MBA 'STARS'

WHILE VETERANS OFFER EXPERIENCE, FRESH B-SCHOOL GRADUATES PROVIDE NEW PERSPECTIVES, MAKING THEM HIGHLY VALUABLE IN THE DYNAMIC, FAST-PACED START-UP SPACE

- PALAK AGARWAL

WHAT IS THE secret sauce of success? Some successful start-up founders say it is having the requisite skills to tackle any situation, which they picked up at the country's top B-schools. Such skills are in high demand now.

Start-ups are on the lookout for employees who embody an entrepreneurial mindset-those who can wear multiple hats and adapt swiftly to shifting market demands. It is no wonder then that this combination of ability with agility has made the top B-schools a critical talent pool for new-age ventures.

Start-ups thrive on innovation, risk-taking, and collaboration-fundamental qualities cultivated at premier B-schools, say experts. "B-school graduates often come with a fresh and innovative mindset, driven by their recent exposure to the latest business concepts, frameworks, and strategies", says Naveen Kumar Nerlaje, Head of People Experience at Licious, a unicorn in the fresh meat and seafood space. This entrepreneurial spirit enables them to challenge conventional wisdom and approach problems creatively, offering solutions that can disrupt the status quo.

Sahil Mathur, CHRO at InMobi Group, an Indian multinational tech company, emphasises that B-school hires complement the fast-moving, agile culture of startups. "They're trained to approach problems with a structured mindset, complementing the agility and speed of start-ups," he says. Mathur adds that their leadership potential and contemporary business knowledge often serve as catalysts for innovation. This combination of skills and mindset is precisely what start-ups need to drive transformative growth and stay competitive in a disruptive market.